County Commissioners unanimously approved using $300,000 for a new initiative aimed at helping qualified homeowners. During their meeting on July 13, commissioners voted to move forward with the Homeowner Grant Program that could provide $300 for eligible residents.

“This is a new idea for our community, and I’m glad we are thoroughly evaluating it,” said Chairman Brownie Newman. “We are trying to provide some financial relief for folks seeing cost of living go up for a variety of reasons. We’ll make adjustments based on what works well,” said Newman noting the County might increase the program’s investment in the future.

Homeowners Grant Details

Grant amount: Up to $300
Frequency: Annual
Eligible payments types: Tax bill and other homeowner housing costs
Eligible area: Buncombe County
Length of primary residence: Five years
Income: 80% of annual median income
Application: Income documentation required, unless already enrolled in HHS means-tested programs
Other programs: Best fitting programs; no duplication of benefits

Applications will be available starting Aug. 1, and the deadline to apply will be Nov. 15. Buncombe County will work with the local media and add updates to the Homeowner Grant program on its website as more information and applications are available.

Join a Volunteer Task Force! Our volunteer task forces work hard behind the scenes diving deep into issues affecting Asheville and Buncombe County. If you’re interested in becoming more involved by partnering up with other passionate community members, this is the place for you!   Plastics Reduction Task Force – Meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm Join the PRTF Tree Protection Task Force – Meets on the last Monday of the month at noon. Contact [email protected] to be added to the email list.

• Register for City Hike, a nationally-powered, locally-experienced event raising money to protect the Earth while providing an adventurous, challenging, and engaging exposure to the great outdoors.

• Fundraise to support Sierra Club’s local and national environmental initiatives, like ensuring a just transition to 100% clean energy. Show how much you care about our planet, and get your friends and family to join you. 

• Hit the Trail! From September 19th – October 9th, lace up your shoes and get outside! Use AllTrails to find a great hike near you, or create a new experience. We’ll send you a virtual scavenger hunt that you’ll access through the Glide app to enhance (and educate you) along your self-guided hike route!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor all donations given through Sunday, November 21 will be matched up to $8,500 – turning each donation into a SUPER DONATION! When you donate to ACT, you are assisting with scholarships, helping to keep ticket prices affordable, and so much more!

Help us reach this goal with a gift of any size!

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

In this 1-hour program, Dr. David Moore, an archaeologist at Warren Wilson University, discusses the Joara Native American Village and Native resistance to the Spanish invasion of WNC in the 1500s. Dr. Moore has been involved with the archaeology of this site near modern Morganton, NC for nearly three decades. He describes the findings of ongoing excavations and places them in context with the culture of the Native peoples who eventually thwarted Spanish colonization attempts in the Appalachian Mountains.

Ride in style on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad aboard your very own restored Caboose. These are great for family reunions, birthday parties, private meetings, corporate field trips or just any time!

Our cabooses accommodate up to 15 people with seating on the main level and in the cupola. (And, remember, babies are people, too!) The cabooses feature heat, private bathrooms, windows that can be opened, and open air vestibules at each end for unobstructed views. Advanced reservations are required and availability of caboose rentals are limited.

A platter of cheese and crackers, and an assortment of 15 bottled Coca-Cola products are included. Plus, the caboose is the only place where you can bring your own food and drink (please, no alcohol) in picnic baskets or coolers.

You can charter the caboose on:

• Nantahala Gorge
• Tuckasegee River

Best value for small groups and private parties up to 15 passengers. Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.

Western North Carolina has a rich assortment of county historical societies, archives, and museums. The Western North Carolina Historical Association seeks to help researchers, historians, genealogists, and the general public take full advantage of these resources.

The Omni Grove Park Inn, home of the iconic National Gingerbread House Competition, announced a reimagined Competition for 2021. After a virtual 2020, the Resort is planning to welcome back participants in-person this year, along with an esteemed panel of judges, including renowned Food Network Chef, Carla Hall.

Gingerbread enthusiasts are now encouraged to enter the Competition (find entry details HERE) and begin dreaming up dazzling designs for their confectionary creations. The 2021 Competition will take place at The Omni Grove Park Inn on November 22, 2021.

November 8, 2021: Competitor Entry Form Deadline.

November 15, 2021: Digital Content and Description Summary Form Deadline.

November 22, 2021: Awards Ceremony and Winners Announcement.

December 1-12, 2021: 12 Days of Gingerbread series on The Omni Grove Park Inn social channels highlighting top finalists. Assets will be available.

November 2021 – January 2, 2022: In-person Gingerbread Display will be open for public viewing at The Omni Grove Park Inn.

We’re excited to announce that the  South Slope Mural Trail is now live at ashevilledowntowntrails.com. The South Slope Mural Trail was created in collaboration with the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation, Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the South Slope Neighborhood Association to highlight the creativity of Asheville’s growing mural scene in downtown’s South Slope.

Our friends over at The Haunted Trail (located at the Adventure Center of Asheville) are looking for volunteers!

From the fine folks at The Haunted Trail:

“Lookin’ fer somthin outdoorsy ta do this Halloween season?! 

We are lookin’ to recruit a few more volunteers – who are NOT shy! – to act in our brand new scene: a wild western walk through! (Acting spaces are limited and assigned based on level of availability. There are also some non western roles still waiting for the perfect volunteer to find us!!)

Don’t fancy yerself as one of those dramatic type folk?! We would love to have some festival area volunteers as well!

Adult volunteers will receive free beer with their dinner which is provided by our amazing title sponsor Mellow Mushroom!!”

Please email Lauren Rivas if you would like to join in the fun at The Haunted Trail this year!

If you are a resident of Woodfin, Weaverville, or the Woodfin Water and Sewer District, then you’re eligible to vote in the upcoming municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Buncombe County Election Services wants to make sure you have all the information you need and is committed to having a safe and secure election. For more information about precautions regarding COVID-19, click here.

Below is information about voter registration, sample ballots, absentee ballots, Early Voting, and more. If you have additional questions, visit our website at buncombecounty.org/vote or contact our office by phone at:  (828) 250-4200.

What’s on the ballot?

• Town of Weaverville Mayor
• Town of Weaverville Town Council Members
• Town of Woodfin Commissioners
• Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District Trustee
• Three ways to vote: Absentee by Mail, Early Voting, and Election Day
• You may request an absentee ballot until Oct. 26.
• Early Voting period which runs Oct. 14-30.
• • Election Day

  Where to vote

  On Election Day, polls are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to vote.

Rabbit Rabbit is hosting a Winter Tree Carnival beginning Nov. 8. Businesses and organizations can adopt a tree to decorate or adopt a tree for a nonprofit to decorate. Trees will be on display beginning Nov. 8 through Jan. 3

Although cases per 100,000 per week decreased to 295 this week from 351 the week prior, COVID cases, rates, and percent positivity remain at high levels. The percent positivity decreased slightly to 8.3% from the mid-9% range for the past month. Hospitalizations remain level but high. Currently 13.4% of inpatient hospital beds are occupied with COVID-19 patients, and 54% of ICU beds are occupied with COVID-19 patients. Last week, there were 14 COVID-19-related deaths reported in Buncombe County.

Because of sustained high transmission levels, Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) recommended extending the indoor face covering requirement for indoor public spaces until the end of October. Buncombe County Commissioners voted to extend the requirement through Oct. 29, 2021. Read the entire declaration.

To date, BCHHS has administered almost 100,000 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with about 3,000 of those coming in outreach settings. Currently 65% of the total Buncombe County population is partially vaccinated, and 73 percent of the eligible population is partially vaccinated.

According to recent NC DHHS data, unvaccinated individuals have a risk that is 4 times that of their vaccinated counterparts in becoming ill with COVID-19. Additionally, unvaccinated individuals have a risk of death that is 14 times that of their vaccinated counterparts.

Last week, the FDA recommended COVID-19 Pfizer booster shots for individuals who received Pfizer and are:

• 65 or older
• At high risk of severe COVID-19
• At high risk of occupational exposure

The CDC and ACIP are expected to meet Sept. 22 regarding recommendations. When recommendations are finalized, BCHHS will announce booster vaccine opportunities using its emergency alert program. To enroll, text “BCAlert” to 99411 or click here.

It is also anticipated that Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5-11 will be announced soon.

Currently, $100 incentive cards are still available through the NC DHHS extension while supplies last for eligible individuals (18 years and up) receiving their first dose of vaccine at the Buncombe County Vaccination Clinic. Individuals can visit the Buncombe County Health Department at 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to receive a vaccination. Individuals can also visit yourspotyourshot.nc.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, get tested and isolate from others while waiting for your test results. Testing locations can be found at Find My Testing Site NC. Beginning Sept. 27, StarMed will offer testing at Harrah’s Event Center.